42 karma · joined February 25, 2017
I haven't tried online testing yet. I've been putting off upgrading to Amateur Extra class, though I'll probably try one of those online test sessions eventually.
One common type of activity is attempting to make direct contact with a distant station. This could be using a voice mode, digital mode (text), or CW, which just means using Morse code and a keyer to communicate.
Operators can make contacts all over the world using the Earth's ionosphere as a mirror, to reflect signals, and send them further than any method of terrestrial propagation can achieve. This is called skywave propagation as opposed to groundwave propagation, which is like how cell phones work.
The caveat being that skywave propagation appears to have a degree of randomness to it. It isn't totally random but we collectively do not understand it enough to fully predict when and where our signals will end up.
So there's an opportunity to make direct contact with another station somewhere else on Earth, depending on the propagation conditions.
So to now actually answer your question, there's novelty in getting your station working, and then using it to have a brief conversation with a random person at least hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles away. This is known as a QSO.
At different times, for example, with my station being located in North Carolina, I might suddenly be able to reach stations in Europe around sunset. Usually, it's more limited to random areas within the United States with a basic antenna, but not always.
If I announce my presence over the radio (call CQ), and someone comes back to me, we'll exchange some basic signal quality info. Afterwards, if the other person wants, you can ask about their radio setup, and talk about common interests, while avoiding some topics like local politics, etc.
Here's a video of someone doing this: https://youtu.be/tXIbSGX2SvU?t=3m40s
That's only one activity while there are many others. Another activity would be pointing a beam antenna at low earth orbit amateur radio satellites to make as many quick contacts with other operators as possible while the satellite is above the horizon. This is a very physically and mentally challenging activity. Here's a video of that: https://youtu.be/QWtdyT4PYMw
There are also digital modes as well. FT8 is a common digital mode for making contacts with much less personal interaction using a PC. This one is easier to just watch and see than to explain: https://youtu.be/bSpyYV-xz5c
Hopefully that gives you some ideas about what it's like to make contacts over the radio. Some people like the social aspects and others (like me) like the technical and experimental aspects of making contacts and seeing where and how far my signals will go.
Ham radio is a very interesting hobby with a large variety of activities and operating techniques. It's been great to learn about how to make direct contacts across the world using just a small antenna and coil using the HF bands.
I certainly understand the potential commercial value of spectrum currently allocated to amateurs, though it's a shame to see it constantly under threat, with little regard to its usefulness as an emergency communication service.
While it's true that most amateurs are older, I'm 24 and I would encourage anyone looking for something else to do to get licensed and get on the air. There's always something more to learn and do, and many hams are happy to help with choosing and setting up equipment.
Check out hamstudy.org if you want to get licensed. It's pretty easy, especially to get a basic Technician class license, and online testing has begun due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perhaps place an undo button nearby or somehow decrease touch sensitivity without removing functionality?
If they don’t test, components will break. If they don’t change APIs, components won’t be able to improve sufficiently.
In this case, there are only two actual solutions from Apple’s perspective, and they’re both ‘bad’ for customers:
Restrict users of 3rd-party screens from upgrading their devices, even when breakage may not occur, or, let them update and take the risk.
Technical debt, likely caused by time-pressure before releases, is expensive when it can’t be left behind.
Apple also doesn’t have to support much 3rd party hardware because their phones are the only built to run iOS.
I would imagine that Google’s processes are better equipped to support more hardware and for longer durations.